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Lapp, George Jay (1879-1951)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1951 Feb 1 p. 1
Birth date: 1879 May 26
text of obituary:
Veteran Missionary, Church Work Called
GEO. J. LAPP DIED SUDDENLY OF HEART ATTACK ON JAN. 25
Goshen. Ind. — On January 25, 1951, Rev. George Jay Lapp passed away at his residence at 1803 South Main Street, Goshen, during a heart attack. He had been stricken several weeks ago but had regained his normal strength sufficiently to preach several times since and to continue his usual duties.
He was born near Juniata, Nebraska, on May 26, 1879, a son of Samuel W. and Sarah (Gross) Lapp. On June 25, 1905, he was married to Esther Ebersole who died May 8, 1917. They were the parents of three daughters: Lois, (Mrs. Ezra Camp, of St. Paul, Minnesota); Harriet, (Mrs. Lawrence Burkholder, of Goshen), and Pauline Georgia, who died in 1913 at the age of four. On April 14, 1920, he was married to Fannie Hershey, of Manheim, Pennsylvania, who survives him.
Bishop Lapp began his education in a country school in Adams county, Nebraska, and attended high school in Juniata, 1895-1898. After teaching a country school in his home community, 1897-1901, he matriculated at the Elkhart Institute on March 8, 1901, and received the diploma for the completion of the academic course in June, 1902.
After attending Northwestern University Seminary and Medical School for two years, he served as home missionary and evangelist during the winter of 1904-05. He then was appointed missionary to India where he served continuously until 1946 except during brief periods while he was on furlough in the home land.
On his first furlough he completed the requirements for the B.A. degree at Goshen college in 1913. During his second furlough he was elected president of Goshen college on February 23, 1918, and served until the fall of 1919 when he retired to resume his work on the India mission field. On a subsequent furlough he completed the requirements for the degree, Master of Religious Education, at Bethany Theological seminary in 1930.
After his retirement from the Indian mission field in 1946, he and his wife built a residence at 1803 South Main Street, Goshen, where they resided until his death.
Following his return from India in 1946 he reentered Goshen College as a student and was a member of the first class to receive the B.D. degree in 1947. In 1947 he was appointed Director of the Bible Correspondence Department at Goshen College. Offering courses for home study, he himself gave instruction in six of the ten courses offered by the department.
Although popular as a minister, evangelist, and teacher during his furlough in the home land, his chief contribution was made on the mission field. During more than 40 years (1905-46) service as a missionary in India, he was minister, administrator, translator, and writer.
He served in various responsible positions: treasurer of the American Mennonite Mission; member of the Executive Committee: principal of the Bible Training School; member of the Inter-church and Mission Committee Board; honorary superintendent of the Shantipur Leper Home; honorary manager of the 6,800 acre estate for colonizing healthy children of lepers; member of the Church Historical Society for India, Burma, and Ceylon; and a member of the Language Board for the Hindi Speaking area.
He was the author of “Bible Doctrine” (in Hindi), “Menno Simons and Mennonite Church,” “Confession of Faith and Minister’s Manual,” “History of Mennonite Church in India," “Our Mission in India," and a research report, "The Christian Church and Rural India."
In addition to his service at the College since his return from India in 1946, he has been in wide demand as a preacher and speaker and in 1949 assumed charge of the Holdeman Mennonite church, west of Goshen, a bishop. He ordained his successor in the ministry in that church a few months ago. He has lived rich full life; died greatly loved honored and respected, and has been a blessing to countless thousands.
He is survived by his wife, by his two daughters, and by seven grandchildren, one of whom, Evelyn Camp, of St. Paul, Minnesota, is a sophomore in Goshen college. He is survived also by a brother, Bishop Daniel G. Lapp, of Sterling, Illinois.
Funeral services were held in the auditorium of the College Union on Sunday afternoon, January 28, in charge of the Rev. John Mosemann, pastor of the College congregation. Bishop Sanford G. Yoder preached the funeral sermon assisted by Rev. Simon Gingerich, whom Bishop Lapp had ordained recently as his successor in the pastorate of the Holdeman congregation. Interment was made in the Alwine cemetery southeast of Goshen.
